ESD has no measures of effectiveness
State Comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, says that New York's Empire State Development does not evaluate its programs—worth in total about $1.8 billion in taxes—and cannot say which programs best create jobs and which do not, a story in the Albany Business Journal says. The department oversees 57 programs covering 5,000 projects. DiNapoli’s office found the ESD has no measures of effectiveness.
Funeral homes for autopsies
The medical examiner who oversees many autopsies in the Capital Region and north to Glens Falls Hospital is wreaking havoc for forensic medical examinations. Hospitals will not let Dr. Michael Sikirica into their facilities because he refuses to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. His choice has Warren County looking to funeral homes to see if they will accommodate the doctor and hospital staff for certain autopsies. The county is conducting autopsies at St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, the Post-Star says.
GOP Judge takes endorsement, Dems cry foul
Incumbent judge James Hughes’ acceptance of a endorsement from the Saratoga County sheriff is perfectly fine, says the GOP leader of Clifton Park, according to a story in the Daily Gazette. However, the sheriff brings criminal suspects before the judge, so the endorsement creates a conflict of interest, says the Democratic and Working Families Party line leadership.
Springs: WFP says to vote for Dems.
Leadership of the Working Families Parties in Saratoga Springs are telling people to vote for the Democrats on the ballot next month. The WFP has said Republicans and conservative candidates have taken over the WFP in Saratoga Springs and have run ghost candidates, people who likely will not win, have not run real campaigns, and might steal votes from Democrats, the Times Union is reporting. [On a few occasions this election season, FoothillsBusinessDaily.com has reached out to the candidates and received no response. During League of Women voters debates, the candidates have not appeared, though the league says they reached out to them.] Calling the candidates “phony” in the story, WFP in Saratoga leader Joe Seeman supported Ron Kim for mayor, Jim Montagnino for public safety and Tara Gaston for county supervisor.
Lake Placid housing scaled back, affects World University Games
The 355-unit housing project in Lake Placid has been scaled back because of rising costs. The developer cites the prices for materials in an Adirondack Daily Enterprise story. The developer says he has funding for the first 101 apartments, not the full lot, and student athletes arriving for the 2023 World University Games will be affected. The plan for the 265 rentals and 90 condominiums was to offer them as housing for the games and rent and sell them afterward. The story says some athletes will have to stay in local hotels. Pre-leases on those first 101 apartments will show the need for this housing and draw investors, the developer said in the story
.